On October 23-27, 2018, WHO-FIC Network held its annual meeting in Seoul, South Korea, under the theme “Better Health Information for Universal Health Coverage: 40 Years after Alma Ata”. The event was attended by WHO headquarters and regional office officials and experts from more than 20 WHO cooperation centers worldwide and related NGOs. Department of Medical Record, PUMCH &WHO-FIC China Cooperation Center was invited. Wang Yi and Zhang Meng attended the event on behalf of the Center.

At the meeting, WHO officials announced that they had stopped updating ICD-10, stressed the priority of ICD-11 in their work planning. They gave an introduction of ICD-11’s basic contents, changed rules, related digital tools and web platforms, and confirmed the new administrative structure, maintenance methods and procedure that fit ICD-11. Experts had in-depth discussions on proposals for the ICD-11 version that shall be submitted for review to the 2019 World Health Assembly, and reached consensus.

PUMCH experts attended CSAC, MRG, FDRG discussions and WHO-FIC Council roundtable and addressed the meeting. They gave an introduction of the progress of ICD-11 in China and participated in topic discussions. To meet the demands of the National Health Commission to standardize China’s disease classification and realize standardized management of clinical data, implement ICD-11 in China, our Center representatives had deep communication with CSAC experts, medical and technical officials on WHO classification, terminology and standards on problems in ICD-11 implementation, priority in next step work and procedures.  

WHO-FIC Annual Meeting is an important platform of international exchange on healthcare data standards. Our Center representatives submitted to the meeting reports on the progress of ICD promotion in China, and had a poster display. They also learned about the latest international developments and established contacts with some centers of distinguished achievements. Our representatives also discussed with Dr. Robert Jakob, medical official with WHO Department of Information, Evidence and Research, on the possibilities of establishing long-term, continuous personnel training mechanism, an effort towards closer and deeper international cooperation.

By taking part in the meeting, our Center strengthened communication with WHO and colleagues worldwide, and affirmed the key and difficult points in promoting ICD-11 in China. The Center will, together with world experts on health information standards, prepare for the implementation of ICD-11 in China and usher in a new era of international disease classification.

(Caption) Center representatives with WHO officials